Office conversions are becoming a form of industrial policy
Cities are no longer simply seeking to attract new employers or subsidize major projects. They are attempting to reshape entire...
When housing costs push residents out, cities should pay attention
On average, Californians who move out of state relocate to neighborhoods where housing costs are about $672 lower per month.
How Austin made housing cheaper
Austin’s lesson is cumulative. The city made it easier to build apartments near jobs and transit, eased rules for accessory...
Zoning reform gains ground, but local resistance shapes how far it goes
Zoning reform is no longer an abstract policy discussion; it is increasingly tied to state legislation with direct implications for...
New York City’s quiet shift away from the neighborhood veto
The reforms do not eliminate neighborhood participation. They attempt to limit its ability to function as a veto. New York’s...
The federal government helped create zoning. It can help reform it.
Treating zoning as outside federal policy debates misses an important opportunity. If federal housing policy helped entrench land-use systems that...
Washington’s housing push is real. The biggest barriers remain local
Washington may finally be aligning around the idea that housing affordability depends on building more homes.
When states require cities to plan for housing growth
Across much of the United States, housing shortages are often described as market failures or affordability crises. But many economists...
Opportunity Zones and the limits of place-based development policy
A large share of the employment gains within Opportunity Zones appears to be offset by job losses in nearby communities....
When inheritance becomes housing policy
In parts of California, inheritance is no longer incidental to homeownership. It is becoming central to it.
BCP helps local leaders leverage public policy to create freer and happier communities. We uncover what works, promote solutions, and forge partnerships that turn ideas into results.
© 2025 Better Cities Project
